Reynard the Fox

Masefield, John, 1878-1967Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.9

Word count: 139K words
Chapters: 14

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Reynard the Fox by John MasefieldAuthor: Masefield, John, 1878-1967,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Nov 18, 2011

Editor's review

John Masefield, known for his poetry and sea-themed works, was a British Poet Laureate. Reynard the Fox retells in verse the famous British Reynard the Fox tradition, with the chase among fox, hounds, and hunters forming the narrative spine, in language full of rhythm and vivid imagery. Unlike the animal fables usually found in prose, this work is closer to a narrative poem, and reading requires attention to how line breaks and meter drive it forward. The Project Gutenberg edition is freely available and makes a good entry point to Masefield's poetic style. If you know the folk tradition of Reynard the Fox, you can observe how the poet reorganizes this ancient material; if you are merely curious about the shape of English narrative poetry, it can also serve as a light poetry reading experience.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in English poetry and narrative verse
Those familiar with the Reynard the Fox tradition who want to see a verse retelling
Literature enthusiasts who want to know Masefield's poetic style
Advanced English readers willing to try English verse works

Not a good fit for

Readers who only read Chinese translations and are not used to English poetry
Readers expecting prose animal stories or children's books
Beginning poetry readers who need detailed notes and guided reading

Reading tips

First read several passages aloud to feel the line breaks and rhythm before entering the plot.
Don't parse line by line; first grasp the overall movement and imagery of the chase scenes.
Compare with an outline of the Reynard folk story to understand the poet's choices in retelling.
Read in several short sessions to avoid fatigue from reading a long poem all at once.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this a novel or poetry?

This work is written in verse and is a narrative poem, centering on the chase among Reynard the Fox, the hounds, and the hunters; it is not a prose novel.

Do I need to know the Reynard the Fox story first?

Not necessarily. Readers unfamiliar with the folk tradition can still follow the chase narrative; knowing the basic framework of the Reynard story in advance makes it easier to see the poet's emphases and changes in retelling.

How difficult is the English?

As a verse work, it has line breaks, meter, and more literary diction, so the threshold is higher than ordinary English prose. It is advisable to have some experience reading English poetry, or to focus on feeling the rhythm rather than understanding every word.

What stature does Masefield have as a poet?

John Masefield (1878–1967) was a British poet and writer who later received the title of Poet Laureate; his works often deal with the sea and rural themes. This entry introduces his identity only on the basis of public-domain common knowledge and does not go into specific award details.

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About the author

Masefield, John, 1878-1967 Author

John Masefield (1878–1967) was a British poet and writer, and this library holds fourteen of his works. His range is broad: poems set against the sea and the countryside, such as Salt-Water Ballads, Dauber and Reynard the Fox; adventure stories for young readers like Jim Davis and Martin Hyde, the Duke's Messenger; documentary works drawn from his wartime experience, including Gallipoli and The Old Front Line; and narratives of voyaging and exploration such as On the Spanish Main. His verse is brisk in rhythm and vivid in imagery, often centred on ordinary sailors and country people, with a strong narrative drive; his prose and fiction prize plot momentum and scene-setting, making them highly readable. The library files his work under inspirational coming-of-age writing, reflecting Chinese readers' interest in his themes of adventure and growth. Public information is limited, so this sketch rests on the works held here.